Comments on: Laundry Is a River in Egypt

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:35:25 +0000

I’ve been meaning to comment for a while, but keep getting sidetracked. My first thought when I read this was, “Huh. I don’t mind laundry but I hate hate hate doing dishes.” I go through the same cycles with dishes that you described going through with laundry (doing it faithfully for a few weeks and then slacking off until there’s nothing left).
Let my little OCD anal retentive self tell you why I don’t mind laundry anymore. Take it or leave it, I don’t care. Two reasons. First, I bought one of those 3-bin laundry sorter do-hickeys and I sort my laundry right away as it comes off at night (or whenever it gets dirty with the kids). I used to not do laundry because there would just be sorted piles all over the floor until I finally had time to do it. No more. Also, I (in theory) do one load a day and each day of the week has their own load so it doesn’t build up. Monday is Alec’s work clothes, Tuesday darks, Wednesday towels, Thursday colors, Friday whites, and Saturday is rugs or anything else that has built up again and can’t wait. Some days I have to do 2 loads, like today because there were somehow more towels than usual (and also lately there have been a lot of wet underpants and clothing thanks to Luke) but usually I only have to do 1.
Also, my mental mantra has become “do it now.” I try to quick fold the day’s load at the beginning of naptime to get it out of the way.
There. I hope no one comes back this far and reads this because it’s a little embarrassing. But it works for me.

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:25:02 +0000

Seriously, I was just trying to explain this to someone. There are only three people living in my house, but as soon as I get ALL of the laundry done, there are baskets upon baskets waiting for me.
I think I’m going to link to your post.

By: Julianne

Julianne — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:14:30 +0000

You are not alone. After children, laundry becomes a completely different animal, alive and reproducing at breakneck speed.
I couldn’t even tell you where my iron is. Seriously.

By: Lynsey

Lynsey — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:09:01 +0000

How funny I wrote about “the socks” of laundry today. And laundry is the biggest pain in the ***!!!!! And yes my clean clothes often make it into the dirty hamper as well….oh the cycles of life.
Came across your blog and thought I’d say hello!
Lyns

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:28:28 +0000

My laundry is also endless. My hubby jokes he is going to install a coin slot on the washing machine to make himself some money. So not funny. Since I am the one who does the laundry. I tell him then I will charge him a service fee for washing and putting away his clothes. And if I’d known that card trick for the washing machines back in the day when I also had to use the apartment laundramat, I’d be a rich woman now!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:13:33 +0000

Jackson loves to help do laundry. I have him help me sort the dirty, get the clean into the basket from the dryer, then he sorts socks between his and mine, then whites and colors. It does (1) keep him occupied; (2) helps me if he does not end up in a silly fit and throws things every where.
It is much easier for me though – there are only 2 of us as opposed to 4. I have the weekend to give me a true pattern for laundry. And based on my non-fashionable self and my 15 years of private education (and 12 years of school uniforms) I have limited supplies of what I actaully want to wear and am forced to do laundry. My very fashion conscious son also keeps me motivated to have the hockey, basketball, monster truck, snowflake, McQueen, or other equally cool tshirt clean, so doing laundry also helps avoid AM melt downs.
I have no other words of wisdom, except for those few fleeting minutes if/and when you finally get those last pieces of clothing in the drawers and declare victory until the cycle starts again the next day are very rewarding. I can say that becuase I actaully did achieve that for the second time I think this ’08 right after I got Jax in the bath…..he is hollering he is cold….better run!
Love,
Suz